YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third under diagnostic code 5161, in 38 CFR § 4.71a (musculoskeletal system), and the schedule provides a single evaluation under it: 80%.
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A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Plan your preparationTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third
This is an amputation of the thigh in its upper third — the top one-third of the distance from the perineum to the knee joint, measured from the perineum. The schedule states a single evaluation for that level, so whether a prosthesis can be fitted does not raise or lower the percentage.
Requires surgical or clinical records fixing the level of the amputation: the residual limb must end within the upper third of the thigh, measured as one-third of the distance from the perineum to the knee joint. DC 5161 states one evaluation for that level, so prosthetic fit affects rehabilitation and secondary claims rather than this percentage.
- Diagnostic code
- 5161
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.71a
- Schedule levels
- 80%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
There is no higher or lower step inside this code: a rating decision either finds its criteria met or it does not. Where they are not met, 38 CFR § 4.31 assigns a 0% evaluation: service connection granted, at a level that does not pay.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third VA rating criteria (DC 5161)
This condition has one published rating level. Read the criteria, then explore the details and monthly pay.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third claim
A long list feels easier when you have a place to start. Use this checklist to see what you have and what still needs gathering.
Check off what you’ve gathered. Progress stays on this page until you leave or refresh.
THE EXAM FORM
Which DBQ is used for Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third?
VA's page says: “You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers.”
Source: VA: Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), read September 18, 2026.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third claim
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim3 tips
- 01
Include rehab reports showing mobility issues
- 02
Submit both physical and mental health evaluations
- 03
Explain how the amputation impacts daily life
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Not documenting the measured level of the amputation, which is the one fact this code turns on.
- 02
Not documenting psychological impact.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Not submitting the operative report or clinical measurement that fixes the amputation level.
- 02
Not showing how the amputation affects mobility or work.
When symptoms may first appear2 tips
- 01
Usually from traumatic combat injury or advanced vascular disease
- 02
Phantom pain and psychological impact may appear later
WHEN VA HOLDS THE LINK
Cardiovascular disease after a lower-extremity amputation
38 CFR 3.310(c): “Ischemic heart disease or other cardiovascular disease developing in a veteran who has a service-connected amputation of one lower extremity at or above the knee or service-connected amputations of both lower extremities at or above the ankles, shall be held to be the proximate result of the service-connected amputation or amputations.”
THE BROADER PICTURE
Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Very High – major limb loss typically well-supported by medical documentation.
- Veterans service-connected
- ~900 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~80%
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule, not official VA statistics.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third
Is Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third under VASRD diagnostic code 5161 (Musculoskeletal System). This is an amputation of the thigh in its upper third — the top one-third of the distance from the perineum to the knee joint, measured from the perineum. The schedule states a single evaluation for that level, so whether a prosthesis can be fitted does not raise or lower the percentage.
What VA disability rating can I get for Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third?
Possible VA ratings for Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third are 80%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 80%: Upper third, one-third of the distance from perineum to knee joint measured from perineum.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third at around 80%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 900 veterans are service-connected for Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third. Estimated approval outlook: Very High – major limb loss typically well-supported by medical documentation.
What evidence helps prove Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third claim includes: Surgical records confirming amputation level; Prosthetic fitting documentation; VA exam confirming limited mobility.
Which DBQ is used for Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third?
VA's Amputations Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is on its public list of DBQs. VA's page says: "You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers."
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third?
Common pitfalls when filing for Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third: Not submitting the operative report or clinical measurement that fixes the amputation level; Not showing how the amputation affects mobility or work.
When does VA hold cardiovascular disease to be the result of a service-connected lower-extremity amputation?
38 CFR 3.310(c): "Ischemic heart disease or other cardiovascular disease developing in a veteran who has a service-connected amputation of one lower extremity at or above the knee or service-connected amputations of both lower extremities at or above the ankles, shall be held to be the proximate result of the service-connected amputation or amputations."
What conditions can be secondary to Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third, when a medical opinion links them, include: Depression. A secondary condition gets its own rating, which VA combines with the veteran's other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a, Schedule of ratings, musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5161)
- 38 CFR § 4.31, zero percent evaluations
- 38 CFR § 3.310(c), cardiovascular disease after a service-connected lower-extremity amputation
Criteria in quotation marks are the regulation’s own words; everything else on this page is Vetrify’s summary of it. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.
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